
Premier's shock call on Ivan Milat
Mr Minns said he also would not rule out a parliamentary inquiry into Milat 'and his associates' during a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday morning.
Milat died in prison in 2019, having been convicted over the deaths of two men and five women between 1989 and 1992, known as the backpacker murders.
He has since become the subject of intense and longstanding media attention, with amateur sleuths and cold case police connecting dozens of alleged murders to him.
Under questions from Legalise Cannabis Party MLC Jeremy Buckingham, Mr Minns said he would not rule out an inquiry into Milat and other cold case murders. Ivan Milat died in prison in 2019 having been convicted over the deaths of two men and five women between 1989 and 1992. Supplied. Credit: Supplied
'Perhaps the best thing for me to do is to meet with you (Mr Buckingham), and I'm with you … would be a privilege to meet victims' families,' Mr Minns said.
'I think that's an important thing to do, to understand not just their circumstances and their anguish associated with the loss of their loved one.
'But, I wouldn't rule it (an inquiry) out. I think that may be the necessary next step, given the scale of some of the things.'
Mr Minns was shown pictures of Milat and a police sketch of a man connected with the killing of two women at Wanda Beach in 1965.
Asked if they were similar, Mr Minns said 'I'm concerned they are incredibly similar. Premier Chris Minns says he would be 'privileged' to meet with the families of more than 80 unsolved murders. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
'If there's government information that can shine a light or a spotlight on further investigations, or even advocacy on your part that can prompt somebody with some kind of information about these horrible murders, then I think it's worthwhile.'
The Legislative Council earlier this year passed a motion under Standing Order 52 to produce work records of Ivan Milat from his time with government agencies.
Mr Buckingham said the council was instead supplied with 'just a few pages'.
'They do not show in any way what his role was, what he was doing, and, most importantly, where he worked and when'.
Asked why the records were not supplied, Cabinet Office Secretary Kate Boyd said she would get back to Mr Buckingham later on Wednesday afternoon.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Childcare workers could soon face phone ban
State and federal education ministers will discuss progress on a nationwide mobile phone ban for early childcare workers, among a range of other measures aimed at bolstering safety at centres. States, including South Australia, Victoria and most recently Western Australia, have already gone further with a total ban on personal mobile phones in centres, however all states and territories agreed to the voluntary Model Code set by the Commonwealth. The federal code restricts educators and workers from taking photo and videos on their personal devices. However, centre-issued devices are exempt from the rule. Other measures set to dominate the meeting, which will be held in Sydney on Friday, include funding a National Educator Register to ensure workers who fail to meet standards can't bypass state jurisdictions, tougher penalties to deter noncompliance and mandatory child safety training for all staff. State and federal education ministers will discuss new rules for childcare centres to keep children safe. Credit: istock Federal Education Minister Jason Clare will also propose a funding package of up to $189m over four years to implement the changes. The special meeting of education ministers follows a string of child abuse and sexual assault allegations, including Melbourne former childcare worker Joshua Brown who faces more than 70 charges. Australian Federal Police officers allege NSW worker David William James produced child abuse material of 10 victims, the oldest being six years old. As a result, the Commonwealth passed laws which would cut off funding to centres which repeatedly breached standards, plus allow compliance officers to conduct checks without prior warning. Former Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown has been hit with more than 70 child abuse and child sexual assault charges. Picture Supplied Credit: Supplied Mr Clare said Friday's meeting would discuss the 'next step' in ensuring safety standards in centres. 'No parent should ever have to wonder if their child is safe when they drop them off at child care,' he said. 'We need a national register to ensure we know who is caring for our children and their work history.' He also flagged mandatory child safety training as another priority. 'The overwhelming majority of childcare workers are awesome at what they do caring for and educating our children. They are just as angry as everyone else,' he said. 'They're our best asset here and we need to back them with the skills to spot when something isn't right. 'We also need to ban personal phones and ramp up inspections to make sure centres are up to scratch.' Education Minister Jason Clare will convene a special meeting with his state counterparts to discuss safety measures. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh conceded 'there was more to do'. 'Our action supports the overwhelming majority of educators and providers who do the right thing and shuts the door on people and providers who do harm,' she said. 'Our investment of up to $184m is the biggest child safety package the early learning sector has ever seen.' The Coalition's education and early learning spokesman Jonno Duniam said Friday's meeting must produce 'immediate, consistent reforms'. He said there needed to be a consistent phone ban across all states, and backed South Australia's $50,000 penalties for noncompliance on Model Code. 'Every opportunity to shift the dial should be on the table. This includes considering targets in the extended preschool reform agreement,' he said. 'A national register of childcare workers should have been implemented already, and there must be consistency in the implementation of personal phone bans. 'South Australia is imposing $50,000 penalties for noncompliance to the new code. We want to see all states and territories follow suit.'


Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Outlandish': Judge's disbelief at fire claim
A woman who set a 20-year-old on fire has made a shock claim about what she used to carry out the horror attack. Jordan Spencer, 34, doused Paris Carpio with petrol in the front yard of her Shepparton home in January last year before igniting the young woman with a lighter. Spencer, a mother of five, appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday for a pre-sentence hearing after pleading guilty to a charge of intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence. She would not meet the eye of three members of Ms Carpio's family as she entered court flanked by two custody officers and was seated in the dock. Jordan Spencer has pleaded guilty. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia Previously, the court was told Ms Carpio was visiting family and friends in the northern Victorian city on January 15 when she encountered Spencer's boyfriend Rob McLaren while drinking with a friend at Rigg Reserve. Mr McLaren, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, took Ms Carpio's e-scooter and rode off when she'd walked to a nearby milk bar to purchase cigarettes at 5.20pm. About 15 minutes later, Ms Carpio attended Spencer's home 'upset and clearly intoxicated' looking for Mr McLaren, yelling that she wanted her e-scooter back. She spoke to Spencer, who said Mr McLaren wasn't there, and later smashed a window and attempted to force her way into the home. Ms Carpio left after Spencer called triple-0 but returned less than an hour later after spotting Mr McLaren riding the streets on her device. Paris Carpio suffered burns to 30 per cent of her body. Supplied. Credit: News Corp Australia She broke a glass panel near the front door, with Spencer urging her to come inside, saying 'I'll give you what you deserve'. Just before 6.30pm as Ms Carpio was backing away Spencer exited the house, flinging a bowl of petrol at the young woman and repeatedly attempting to ignite the lighter. Outlining the facts of the case, Crown prosecutor John Dickie said CCTV recorded that Spencer 'watched Ms Carpio burning' before picking up her lighter and going inside. Ms Carpio suffered severe burns to her upper body and was rushed to hospital in Melbourne in a critical state, while Spencer walked to a neighbour's house and attempted to blame her victim. Inside her home police discovered a jerry can with two litres of petrol on a kitchen bench and the jet lighter on the dining table. In recorded jailhouse calls, Spencer blamed Mr McLaren for 'causing the whole instigation of the f--king argument' and claiming she was 'f--ked' because he hadn't removed the CCTV recording. 'Yeah, well you didn't come to fix what you started so I had to,' she said. The court was told Spencer maintains the bowl of petrol and lighter had been placed by the front door by Mr McLaren as a home defence tool. She claimed she didn't know what was in the bowl but had been instructed by Mr McLaren to use it if threatened. Spencer herself suffered burns and was taken to hospital. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia Justice Andrew Tinney described this claim as 'highly implausible', noting that while there had been a spate of fire attacks in recent memory, they were 'in the heat of the moment' incidents. 'I've never heard of the proposition of protecting a drug house by having a bowl of petrol … it just sounds pretty outlandish,' the judge said. The court was told Spencer had been using methamphetamine in the days leading up to the attack. Called to give evidence on Thursday, clinical psychologist Courtney Steffens said she believed the offending was influenced by Spencer's drug use, traumatic background and diagnoses of complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder. She said she'd assessed Spencer and formed the view that the 'severely disproportionate' reaction was a fear response, linked to concern for her safety and that of her children. 'Because of the impulsivity and emotional dysregulation she didn't think fully about the consequences of her actions,' the psychologist said. This was challenged by Mr Dickie, who argued that Spencer was intent on setting fire to Ms Carpio and motivated by anger towards her. 'I would not be prepared to solely conclude that,' Ms Steffens said. 'My impression was that she was experiencing emotional dysregulation … she was in a state of fear.' Paris Carpio's mother Kylie Powell attended the hearing. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia In a statement to the court, Ms Carpio, now 22, said her life had been changed forever by an 'act of cruelty and inhumanity' perpetrated by Spencer. 'My family was told multiple times that I might not survive. They watched over me helpless, praying that I would wake up,' she said. 'I am here today, but survival came at enormous cost physically and emotionally and psychologically.' Ms Carpio said before the incident she was a 'joyful person', loving life and feeling comfortable in her own skin. 'Jordan Spencer stole that from me. She didn't just hurt my body, she destroyed a part of my spirit,' she said. 'Every day is a battle to stay alive, to stay hopeful, to believe in something better, but that battle is exhausting. 'No sentence Jordan Spencer receives will ever truly be enough. There is no number of years in prison that can erase the suffering I've endured, the pain, the fear, the depression, the disfigurement, the stolen sense of self.' Spencer will return to court on Monday for a further pre-sentence hearing.


West Australian
9 hours ago
- West Australian
Aussies sending goods to the US to be hit by a tariff rule this month
Australians, e-retailers and businesses exporting items to the US are about to be hit with a new tariff after the Trump administration overturned an exemption on imports valued less than $US800. Australia Post warned on its website that US President Donald Trump's import tariff changes take effect from August 29 and will affect Australians sending items to the States. 'We are actively monitoring for any developments and will continue to provide timely updates as more information becomes available,' the Australia Post notice read. NewsWire understands the new tariff needs to be collected from the country of origin and Australia Post is working to find a solution. An Australia Post spokesman said they were focused on providing a reliable and competitive postal service for customers sending parcels internationally. 'The United States government recently announced significant changes to its import tariff rules that will impact customers sending items from Australia to the US,' a spokesman said. 'Our priority is to keep our customers updated on the changes and what they mean for them.' Items sent to the USA worth less than $US800 have been free from paying any tariffs, but last month President Trump signed an executive order to suspend the duty-free 'de minimus' tariff exemption for low-value shipments from all countries. The change is expected to impact e-retailers around the globe and has already seen some countries suspend shipments to the United States. The order empowers Homeland Security to close a loophole which was used to avoid tariffs and exploited by organised criminals to smuggle drugs into the United States. A Homeland Security spokesman said under the de minimus exemption, countries exploited the system to flood the American market with cheap goods (such as e-commerce retailers Temu and Shein) that undercut American manufacturers and cost jobs. 'Over the past decade the volume of de minimus shipments to the United States exploded, growing from 134 million shipments in 2015 to over 1.36 billion shipments in 2024,' a statement read. 'De minimus shipments accounted for 90 per cent of all cargo seizures in FY 24.' Some European postal services have already paused shipments to the USA following the new tariff rules. Sweden's PostNord said in a statement that the de minimus rule change would considerably impact international postal services and e-retailers. The company halted shipments to the United States and Puerto Rico until a compliant solution was developed and implemented. Australia Post has been contacted for comment.